Car-coupling implement



(No Model.)

T. J. THORP. UAR COUPLING IMPLEMENT. No. 444548. Patentd Jan. 13, 1891.

4 Q n O c a M a w v I l AN W q |H|||l n\ P w N A a Q Q "N L Lu a 4 W M wJr UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

THOMAS J. THORP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY F.BAND, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CAR-COUPLING IMPLEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,548, dated January13, 1891.

Application filed June 14, 1890. Serial No. 355 A40. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. THORP, a resident of Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new andusefullmprovements in Brakemens Steel Couplers; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide an implement for use incoupling cars. Brakemen are accustomed to some extent to use a shortstick to manipulate the couplinglink, whereby they avoid exposure oftheir hands and diminish the danger of being crushed; but these sticksin practice are frequently mislaid, neglected, or splintered andrendered practically useless.

It is the design of the invention to provide a device that can beconveniently carried on the forearm without special attention, and soconstructed that it can be instantaneously thrown into the hand intosuitable position for use as a stick oreXtension-arm whereby to managethe coupling device of a car.

The invention consists in the parts and combinations hereinafterdescribed and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectionof the device,

the straps for securing it to the arm being.

omitted and the movement toward an operative position being indicated bydotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view on a smaller scale of a detachable capprovided with wings for the attachment of a securing strap or straps;and Fig. 3 is a view of the opposite end with the strap as arranged forsecuring the device to the arm.

Numeral .1 denotes a tube provided with devices of any convenient orsuitable kind for attaching it to the forearm over the shirtsleeve andpreferably under the blouse or outer garment. In the present instancestrips or wings 2 and 3, having suitable slots for the attachment ofstraps, are provided. As shown, the wings 3 are connected with adetachable cap 4, having a screw-thread connection with the main body ofthe tube 1. This is closed at its outer end, except for a slot 5,through which extends a small steel bar 6. This bar is made of a size toloosely fit the slot, and both the slot and bar are preferably madeangular, substantially as shown, to prevent the rotation of the bar orrod.

7 ,indicates a head or piston on the bar, which fits loosely theinterior of the tube.

8 denotes shoulders on the bar, adapted to act as stops and arrest thebar as it is passed outwardly through slot 5.

It may be noted that the cap at turns readily on the tube, so that itadapts itself to the partial rotation of the wrist and does notinterfere with the general use of the hand.

9 is a spring securedin the present instance to the cap 4 and arrangedin the path of the movable bar 6, which is by preference bent at its endtoward the spring to more certainly secure its engagement therewith,this form of the bar being also very suitable for the use for which itis designed. The purpose ofthe spring is to prevent the incidentalslipping of the bar in the tube, and it should not be stiff enough tomateriallyoppose the throwing out of the bar when its use is required.ticular form and location of this spring are not material, nor is itsuse, in fact, essential, as the same purpose could obviously be effectedby friction.

10 denotes a cap closing the upper end of the tube. This is notessential, as the tube can be closed in any usual manner, the bar, withits head or piston, being capable of insertion at the end when cap 4: isremoved, after which the latter can be slipped over the end of the barand then connected with the main body of the tube.

The tube 1 having been secured in any convenient manner, as by straps,to the inside of the forearm, with the bar concealed in its interior,the whole device will ordinarily be covered by the sleeve of thebrakemans blouse or coat, the spring or equivalent means preventing therod slipping down by gravity through slot 5.

When the brakeman has occasion to handle a coupling-link or tomanipulate any part of a coupling device, the bar can be instantaneously.thrown out into operative position by a quick movement of the armtoward the position it must necessarily take for the work to The par- 4be done. No time is therefore lost, and the arm-extension is alwaysavailable for immediate use. A quick reverse movement of the arm willreturn the bar to its hiding-place.-

It is obvious that the extremity of the bar can, if desired, bevariously shaped for special uses or for particular kinds ofcar-couplers. The form illustrated is very suitable for the ordinarylink-and-pin coupling commonly used on freight-cars; but Ido not wish tobe understood as limiting the invention in its details to the exactforms illustrated or the uses set forth, as they may be varied bymechanical skill without departing from the invention, so long aspractically the same mechanical principles and construction areemployed.

The increased security against accident afforded by the new device isapparent. It can be carried without discomfort or inconvenience and doesnot interfere with the or dinary use of the hands. It avoids thenecessityof exposing a hand between the bumpers of cars or of puttingthe person in a dangerous position, as is the case when the coupling isdone immediately by the hand, and it will when introduced into generaluse save many limbs and many lives.

It will be perceived that it is not necessary that the tube becylindrical, nor that the wings have the particular location and formshown. They might, indeed, be omitted; but their use is preferred, asthey hold the implement in place and afford a secure fulcrum for thedevice, acting as a lever. It is preferred to use steel nickel-plated,though this is not necessary, particularly for the tube.

I am aware that a coupling-tool has been supported by a leather sheathfitted to the hand, so that the coupling-rod was held below andalongside the hand, and also that a metal tube or case has been employedto hold a spring-actuated coupler-rod. In such prior coupling devices ithas been necessary to pull the rod out of its sheath or case and to pushit back, the rod being subject constantly to the tension of the spring;or in case the rod was moved by a spring in one direction it wasnecessary to compress the spring to move it in a contrary direction, anda lock or catch requiring separate manipulation was necessary. Iii1-tl1er1nore, such prior devices were not adapted to be secured andconcealed under the sleeve or entirely away from the hand, nor could thecoupling-rod be thrown by a simple movement of the forearm into or outof the hand.

It is characteristic of my improvement that the coupler, when not inuse, is held entirely above and out of the way of the hand, and that therod can be easily thrown into the palm or returned to its case, theretainingspring being pushed aside by the momentum of the rod andexerting no pressure thereon, except near thebeginning of its outwardand the end of its inward movement.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by LettersPatent is- 1. In a car-coupling device, the combination of a tube orcase, devices adapted to secure it to the front of the forearm above thehand and in a line passing near the longitudinal center of the palm, anda rod mov able in said case and adapted to be thrown from and returnedto the case by a movement of the arm, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cancoupling device, the combination of a tube or case, devicesadapted to secure it to the front of the forearm above the hand and in aline passing near the longitudinal center of the palm, a rod movable insaid case and adapted to be thrown from and returned to the case by amovement of the arm, and a retaining-spring only operative when the rodis near its retracted position within the case, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. TI-IORP.

Witnesses:

WM. I-I. I-IERRICK, DAN H. VAN ANTWERP.

